‘Concerned Citizens’ want power balance, active President

Members of civil society group – Concerned Citizens – on Sunday placed some proposals to bring amendments to the Constitution for establishing banance of power by ending concentration of too much power in the hands of the Prime Minister.
Representatives of the civil society group put forward the proposals at a press conference at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club. They also called for autonomy of the constitutional and the statuary bodies in a bid to ensuring independence of the President and sustainable solution of the current political stalemate.They observed that Bangladesh’s journey towards the path of full democracy is being obstructed as the two major political parties are giving maximum emphasis on elections only.
The civil society people proposed to scrap Article 70 of the Constitution barring floor crossing by the MPs
“Unfortunately, our leaders either consciously and unconsciously failed to understand that our constitutional and statuary institutions should be strengthened and made accountable, side by side holding national elections,” said convenor of the “Concerned Citizens” and former chief election commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda.
In his written statement, he said the leaders also failed to realise the necessity of presence of a responsible opposition and having a mentality of resolving the previous and present affairs through talks for the national interests and flourishment of democracy.
Replying to a question, he said they have yet not received replies to their letters they sent to the President, the Prime Minister and the BNP chairperson giving a reminder to sit in a dialogue to resolve the political impasse.
The concerned citizens thought that sometimes a real democratic atmosphere would prevail in the country if their proposals comes for discussion and debate.
They however said that the political leaders only can bring changes in the politics that they are seeking.
Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, former advisers to caretaker government, Syed Abul Maksud, Badiul Alam Majumder, Tofayel Ahmed and Manjur Hasan, among others, were present on the occasion.
The concerned citizens are also for preserving a certain number of seats for women keeping direct election for them, decentralization of power, handing over properties to local government bodies and introducing referendum.
They proposed the bringing of modification in the statuary institutions like Jatiya Sangsad, Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission and the Bureaucracy.
The Concerned Citizens also proposed the practicing democracy inside the political parties, financial solvency of political parties, total abolition of foreign, student and professional wings of the political parties. – Staff Reporter